Braves defeat dominant Max Scherzer on controversial walk-off hit (VIDEO)
It takes a lot to beat Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer these days, but with a fortunate bounce and a favorable call, the Atlanta Braves did just that on Thursday night, handing Scherzer his first loss in four starts.
Scherzer, who has pitched eight or more innings in four consecutive starts, entered the ninth inning having retired 10 consecutive batters, and was looking for a scorless inning to send the game, which was tied, 1-1, into extra innings.
Braves pinch hitter Pedro Ciriaco reached on an infield single to shortstop to lead off the inning and was sacrificed to second by second baseman Jace Peterson.
Scherzer worked center fielder Cameron Maybin to a 1-2 count on the next at-bat, but then the Braves got some help from Father Fortune – or perhaps the grounds-keeping crew.
On the ensuing pitch, Maybin slapped a high-bouncing ball down the third-base line that sailed over the head of third baseman Yunel Escobar, bringing Ciriaco home from second base.
The ball landed in foul territory, but because it was adjudged to have been in fair territory when it crossed the base, Maybin's hit was deemed a fair ball.
Nonetheless, it didn't appear at first glance that the ball crossed the base in fair territory, but third-base umpire C.B. Bucknor was on top of the call.
While Scherzer picked up his first loss in four starts, he nevertheless turned in another impressive performance, striking out nine and giving up two earned runs over 8 1/3 frames.
